Page 28 - City Life Magazine - Spring 2023 Edition

28
BUSINESS
New grants offer a boost
to businesses in Worcester
Worcester businesses
can now access more
grant funding as part
of the City Council’s
allocation of £2.96m
from the UK Shared
Prosperity Fund.
Three new grants are available to
help businesses in the city.
Those at start-up stage or which
have been trading fewer than 12
months can apply for a grant of
up to £1,000 if they’re working
from home, or £2,000 if they’re in
a commercial premises. The grant
can be used towards one-off costs
such as building works, fixtures and
fittings, equipment, a new website or
software to help getting set up.
For businesses that have been
trading longer than 12 months
there is a grant of up to £2,500
(home-based) or £5,000 (commercial
premises) to help with growth plans,
such as launching a new product or
accessing new markets. The grant can
be used towards one-off costs such
as equipment, machinery, building
works, premises refurbishment,
fixtures and fittings, website
construction or software, and other
similar costs. The minimum grant
available is £1,000.
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Issue 62 • March 2023
RETAIL GRANTS
Help is also available for businesses Economic Development team at
and organisations that are either economy@worcester.gov.uk or
moving into empty retail premises 01905 722106.
or looking to make improvements
to their existing building. The unit FREE COURSE TO HELP YOU
can be used for purposes such as START UP
retail, hospitality, leisure, personal If you’re thinking about starting a
care services or provision of business, help is available through
financial services. the Enterprising Worcestershire
five-day business start-up course.
Businesses moving into an empty This free course will provide you
unit can apply for a grant of up with the skills, knowledge, and
to £12,000 towards the cost of confidence you need to turn your
refurbishment. For those already ideas into reality. The workshop
in a retail unit, there is a grant of helps participants understand how
up to £6,000 for improvements to to set up a business, provides
the internal appearance, frontage guidance on marketing, helps
or accessibility. them to hone their sales pitch, and
supports them with developing a
business plan.
The grant can be used for items
such as building works, premises The workshop in Worcester takes
refurbishment, fixtures and fittings, place 27-31 March at Crowngate
signage and other associated Shopping Centre.
costs to either bring the empty
units back into use or improve an Of the participants who filled out
occupied unit. a survey at a previous workshop,
100% said that accessing business
All grants must be matched-funded support was simple and easy
from the business’s own resources. to follow. Find out more at
worcestershire.gov.uk/enterprising
For further information and to worcestershire – just click Starting
request an application pack, Your Business.
contact the Worcester City Council
23/02/2023 4:40 pm
4:40 pm